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Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD today launched the 10th annual SciFest and called on second-level students from across Ireland to demonstrate their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.

Since 2008, over 40,000 students have participated in the competition. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland, the aim of SciFest is to give students of all abilities the opportunity to develop research, problem solving, critical thinking and presentation skills.

Speaking at the launch of SciFest 2017 at St Mary’s Secondary School in Killester, Dublin Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO said:

“2017 is an important year for SciFest as it marks our 10th edition of the competition. Over the last 10 years we have had the opportunity to experience some of the best young minds that Ireland has to offer. 2016 was our best year ever with over 8,000 students participating and exhibiting their projects at local or regional science fairs all across the country and we hope to build on this success in 2017 and beyond. As always, our aim is to develop a passion for STEM, and to promote inquiry-based learning, creativity and innovation among second level students.”

Outlining the commitment from Science Foundation Ireland to its continuing support of SciFest, Margie McCarthy, Head of Education and Public Engagement, Science Foundation Ireland said: “At Science Foundation Ireland we are proud of our longstanding support of SciFest, which contributes hugely to the development of STEM education in Ireland. We always seek to promote science among young people and through this event students develop a passion for STEM that will stand to them for their whole lives.”

In SciFest, second-level students showcase STEM projects at a series of one-day science fairs held locally in schools and regionally in the 14 Institutes of Technology, DCU and St. Mary’s College, Derry. The winners from each regional science fair will go on to compete at a national final in November 2017.

The national final winner(s) of SciFest 2017 will be presented with a trophy and will represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Last year’s overall national final winner was 6th year student Caolann Brady from St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, for her project which focussed on the natural treatment of asthma through humming and breathing techniques as opposed to using inhalers and nebulisers. Caolann will represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

Students wishing to follow in Caolann’s footsteps can log on to the SciFest website and enter online or download a paper entry form. Completed entries must be submitted by Friday 10th March.

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